Is there a way that I can call SheepShaver using a preferences file that is not the ~/.sheepshaver_prefs file?This will help me a lot to have more than one instance of SheepSahver running at the same time.

The use of HOME is to force SheepShaver to use the preferences file from the VM folder. This script also ensure that SheeepShaver is called from within the folder where the start scrip is located. I just tested and works. I can have multiple SheepShaver VMs running at the same time.Contents of each .sheepvm folder is as follows

You start with each folder containing:An empty prefs file that should be named "prefs", not .sheepshaver_prefs.A rom file Mac OS ROM

The startup volume can be in the folder.A keycodes file can be in the folder if needed.

Then you add the extension .sheepvm to the folder name. The folder will turn into a package and will get the SheepShaver icon. The name for a VM with System 7.5.3 setup could thus be "System-7.5.3.sheepvm"

When you double-click that VM, SheepShaver will launch and you can set up the VM as you would a regular setup, using the files inside the VM package. The settings will be written to the "prefs" file inside the VM. Also a "nvram" file will be created inside the VM.

If you have multiple VMs, you can use the script to run them simultaneously.

To open the "System-7.5.3.sheepvm" VM, you use the command:open -n System-7.5.3.sheepvmSheepShaver will use the prefs file inside that VM.

Edit: You do not open the VMs simultaneously, you open them separately but you can keep them running at the same time.Edit: To use the VMs, you do not launch SheepShaver itself, but you start the VMs.